A/N So sorry for the ridiculous amount of time it took me to write this chapter. My thanks as always to snapesgirl21 and Lady Memory for their feedback and support.

Chapter 15

If Hermione had imagined her meeting with Snape and the revelations it entailed would alter their relationship, it seemed she would be sadly mistaken: their relationship was not about to transform from uneasy colleagues to something pertaining to friendship. The next time she saw him was the following Friday when he burst into her office unannounced. His expression was almost identical to the one he had worn when he had found out that Sirius Black had slipped through his fingers at the end of their third year at Hogwarts. The door flew open and he marched across the room – halting when he reached her desk, he leaned heavily against it. Hermione was glad of the sturdy table protecting her from the brunt of his fury.

'Intolerable, Granger!' he bellowed. 'I have just come from holding cell four where I was about to interrogate Avery only to find that his release papers have been signed by you! We have spent months tracking him, building up evidence to make a case against him – only necessary because of your rules – to find that after all our efforts he is gone… allowed to walk freely, wand returned to him and presumably accompanied by the well wishes of the Ministry. Have you also penned a letter of apology for harassment and causing mental anguish?' He clenched his fist and banged it down on the desk. 'Potter barely sees his wife and child, Williamson practically lives in the office, and Weasley has forgotten what Molly's home-cooked dinners taste like!' He paused for air and glared at her just long enough for Hermione to notice that his eyes, when angry, sparkled enticingly like fragments of black jet. She put down her quill and smiled.

'Good morning, Severus. Why don't you take a seat?'

He ignored her reasonable reply and maintained his stance as if he were about to snatch the papers from her desk and throw them to the floor like a toddler having a tantrum. 'You seem hell bent on making the lives of Aurors as difficult as possible. Do you have some grudge I should be aware of?'

Hermione picked up her wand and closed the door against her gaping staff with a practised flick. 'I will speak to you when you stop looming over me and behaving like a child,' she said. 'You have no right to barge in here accusing me of preventing you from doing your job. I don't see Harry or Ron shouting the odds.'

'I can assure you they are just as incensed; I am speaking on their behalf as well as my own.' He straightened up to his full height. 'I am waiting for an explanation. Did you sign those release papers?'

Hermione sighed. 'Yes.'

Snape glared down at her, his white knuckles and deliberate breaths barely suppressed his rage. 'What gave you the right…?'

'The law gave me the right,' Hermione spat back. 'I had no choice.'

'No choice? The Auror office decides when and where someone is released. Your role is to come up with inhibiting rules … apparently, not to step in and overrule a delicate operation.'

'That was not my intention,' replied Hermione. 'I really had no choice. Your suspects are nothing to do with me ordinarily but when Avery's legal representative turns up at my office quoting the law to me and threatening legal action…'

'We should have been informed.'

'You were. I sent messages to all of you but I suppose you were out working on another of your highly sensitive and vastly important cases that require every Auror to be out of the office because not one of you replied. Which is why I had no choice. I asked him to give us more time, I tried to reason with him, but he would not leave until the release papers were signed. What was I supposed to do?'

'There are not enough Aurors to allow us the freedom to take shifts skulking about the office taking messages.'

'Well there should be.'

'What do you suggest? A Geminio Charm perhaps?' Snape sneered.

'Not exactly, but there does need to be more of you.'

'We've been through this. Would-be Aurors are not exactly lining the streets armed with experience and qualifications and waiting to be trained up.'

Hermione took a deep breath, preparing to outline her carefully planned proposal. She had been expecting a furious reprisal from Snape and knew she needed something tangible to soften the blow of releasing an important suspect. 'I've been thinking about this and you were quite right when you said that Aurors take years to train and to hone their very particular skills, but what you need are Aurors who don't need that sort of training and qualifications. Aurors who are trained in office work – writing reports, taking messages, dealing with the paper work and organising things in general so that the highly skilled field-Aurors can get on with what they do best.'

Snape snorted. 'Ridiculous! That is unworkable. Aurors need to deal with their own reports – it would be more time-consuming to have to explain details of a mission and its outcome to the office staff.'

'Perhaps, but there are plenty other mundane office-type jobs that don't require your knowledge and expertise. There need to be co-ordinators, people who know where you are and how to contact you. It would certainly make your office more efficient, and it would save you all a great deal of time.'

'It couldn't possibly work,' Snape retorted. 'Don't you think your brilliantly naive system would already be in place if it was as easy as you seem to think?'

'Has it ever been tried? Perhaps it is the very simplicity of the idea that has prevented anyone from thinking of it before?'

'Even if it were possible, Aurors have obligations of privacy and confidentiality… our work is of an extremely sensitive nature.'

'There are secrecy spells to ensure that as you well know.'

Snape scowled. 'Then there is the issue of competency…'

'They would be office workers not field operatives.'

'We work as a team, we understand the whims and caprices of one another. What you are suggesting would undermine the group dynamics, the very structure of our delicately balanced unit.'

Hermione suppressed a smile. 'You mean Harry and Ron put up with your nonsense and the others have got used to it. I daresay any new staff members would learn how to handle your erm… whims and caprices.'

'Impertinence will not be tolerated, Granger,' he replied, narrowing his eyes dangerously.

Hermione ignored him. 'Any other objections?'

'We don't have the room in our office,' he mumbled petulantly.

She could not prevent the laughter from finding its way out at this last remark. 'I imagine a room extension charm is not beyond you highly trained Aurors.'

He had the grace to concede to her reply with the merest of smiles which seemed to acknowledge his rather childish final offering. The lines of fury etched into Snape's forehead were beginning to relax a little and though his eyes still flashed with indignation, the tension in his shoulders began to ease and he dragged out the waiting chair and took a seat at last. He took a few moments before he spoke. 'Office-based Auror staff,' he said, seeming to consider the idea with a little less antagonism.

'Exactly. Why not? And you're right, I can't believe they don't already exist.'

'Just supposing I concede you have a point,' he said. 'How would that possibly help us in our current predicament? There is currently an Avery-shaped deficiency in holding cell four thanks to you.'

Hermione sighed. 'Everything is under control if you'll just let me explain.'

'Explain?' he retorted. 'You have already done that and here we are back to the same point we were at six months ago only this time Avery is forewarned, at liberty, and well-aware that we are after him.'

'Like I said,' Hermione replied, doing her best to maintain her composure. 'I have it under control, but before I go into that, please consider my proposal to ease your pressure by recruiting more staff.'

Snape merely scowled and kept her in suspense by maintaining a tight-lipped silence for much longer than necessary. It was an agonising five minutes before he spoke again, giving Hermione ample time to deliberate on the wisdom (or lack of it) of keeping back the most vital piece of information concerning Avery's release. It could wait, however, Snape's germinating amenability was too rare and transient a thing to risk extinguishing it by interrupting his introspection. Her patience was finally rewarded.

'Very well, how soon could this new batch of paper-pushing Aurors be recruited?'

Hermione's relief was palpable as she made her reply. 'Assistant Aurors, I thought they might be called, or Auror Support Staff.'

Snape looked amused for the first time since entering the office. 'An interesting acronym,' he said.

Hermione coloured. 'Or Auror Support Personnel. Anyway, I could have a word with Percy Weasley's office and if you speak to the other Aurors about it, I'm sure we could get the advertisement out in a few days. They'd need proper training of course, but if they were recruited internally, the usual Ministry formalities could be dispensed with.'

Snape appeared to be musing over Hermione's proposal and she had the distinct impression that he could find no fault with it but was unwilling to yield so easily. 'I will have to think about it and discuss the matter further with my colleagues, however, the fact remains that Avery is now at large thanks to you.'

Hermione groaned. 'I told you what happened.'

'Yes, but the situation would not have arisen in the first place if it wasn't for your enlightening new procedures, Granger.'

'Oh, here we go again. The procedures are in place and they are not going away. I'm doing my best to accommodate you and frankly I would appreciate a little gratitude because….'

Hermione thought Snape may explode this time.

'Gratitude? A known Death Eater is now free and you ask for my thanks? If you could only have an inkling of the months of tedious background work, and hours of perilous undercover operations I have had to endure to bring him into custody…'

'Like dinner with Hortensia Rookwood?' she couldn't stop herself from blurting out.

Snape's head jerked up in surprise, but he did not retort with the outrage at her impertinence she expected. 'Like I said, tedious background work. There are only so many responses to fatuous appeals for flattery, believe me.'

Hermione couldn't help smiling at his response, though she hoped he wouldn't interpret her waspish outburst as jealousy. The only one with a right to possessive behaviour was the enigmatic Jessica whom no one seemed to know anything about. The witch whose mystery status elevated her to a shadowy, inscrutable beauty, statuesque and regal in her impenetrable realm. Her anonymity gave Hermione's imagination the freedom to persecute herself with images of perfection beyond anything attainable in a real woman. She was the consummate match for him: brilliant, insightful, elegant and urbane – his equal in conversation, a graceful and able magician. She was self-possessed, a great wit with impeccable taste and yet possessed a kind heart and a wish to do good in the world. Hypothetical Jessica had Hortensia Rookwood's good looks and style, mixed up with every virtue Hermione had ever admired – it was no coincidence that imaginary Jessica had no interest in quidditch. It had not escaped Hermione's notice, however, that the legendary version was becoming more distinct to her than the real one could ever be. She had also forgotten to ask herself how such a witch could maintain an unprecedented level of anonymity within the very small and insular confines of the wizarding world where so many witches and wizards knew of each other either vaguely, intimately, or even as relations. If a shred of Hermione's famed Gryffindor courage remained, she knew she should just ask him outright about his own domestic circumstances; he cited Harry and Ron's often enough when berating her for causing them extra work, yet he never mentioned his own.

'She can't have been difficult to compliment,' Hermione replied. 'I could think of at least ten nice things to say about her dress alone.'

Snape smirked. 'I'll bear that in mind. Next time you can have the honour of wining and dining a pampered princess for information.' He paused for a moment and glared at her. 'You have yet to apologise for your blunder. All I have heard so far is excuses without any mention of damage control…'

'For your information,' Hermione interrupted angrily, 'it is not my job to run around after your department.'

'You signed the order.'

'I followed legal procedure.'

'Then we have nothing more to say to each other,' he replied standing up abruptly and turning to leave. 'This will have to go in the report, and I can assure you that the part you played in Avery's release will be duly noted along with a recommendation that you stay out of Auror business in future.'

Hermione also stood up, the colour draining from her cheeks. She gripped the desk so hard it shook, tipping over her neatly stacked quills and sending them flying from their container. She had meant to save the last piece of information as a pleasant surprise; a revelation which was bound to gain her some approval in his eyes. She had intended to deliver the news composedly and to enjoy his approbation which was certain to arise when he heard what she had achieved. But anger took over temperance and the looked-forward to proclamation was delivered as a bitter rant. 'Then perhaps you would also like to mention in your report that before he was set free, I paid him a visit to let him know his rights. During that visit I placed a trace on him which he does not know about. I also placed a binding spell on him which will prohibit him from travelling beyond the British Isles. You can pick him up again at any time. And you can also put in your report that I am very happy to stay out of Auror business and would prefer Auror communication, in future, to be conducted through more formal means, and if you ever come into my office threatening me with report recommendations again I'll hex that stupid expression off your face. And I am happy for you to quote me on that.'

Snape had turned to face her as she stood, listening in astonishment to her furious speech. She saw his own fury turn to relief, which slowly turned into something which looked very much like suppressed admiration, an expression she had hoped to see and of which she would never tire. This time, however, he allowed the look of approval to outweigh disgust and he conceded a small but sincere smile. 'A trace, Granger? Isn't it illegal to cast an intrusive spell on a suspect without permission?'

Hermione shrugged. 'Who's going to report me?' she challenged. 'You?'

'I daren't do that,' he said still smiling. 'I'm rather attached to this stupid expression.'

Hermione returned his smile sheepishly. 'I perhaps should have mentioned the trace earlier, but you were too busy shouting the odds to give me a chance.'

'Then you were right.'

'About what?'

'You do have my gratitude.'

Hermione allowed the feeling of astonishment to spread from her eyes to her gaping mouth. 'I've heard everything now.'

Snape headed for the door, ready to take his leave but not before acknowledging her remark with a discernible glint of humour. Once he reached the door he was about to make for the handle when he stopped and turned around to face her. 'Do you intend to visit the Traveller's Rest again?' he asked casually.

Hermione was surprised by his abrupt change of subject. In truth, she had wondered how she could make use of his surprising gift of the knowledge and use of his discreet hideaway. The possibility that Jessica was also a regular user of the Traveller's Rest was an idea that had haunted her since she had signed the Arcanum. If Hermione was to go there on her own, there was every chance that she might chance upon Severus and Jessica sharing an intimate evening. How could she possibility pass that encounter off with nonchalance and any shred of self-respect? Was she supposed to nod a greeting before finding her way to an empty table to while away the evening alone? On the other hand, she didn't want to seem ungrateful for the award he had felt her worthy of, and if she never went again, that is precisely how it would appear. The whole thing had become more of a burden than a privilege. And here he was already checking up on her, ready to accuse her of ingratitude no doubt.

She wasn't sure how to answer him. 'Yes of course. I don't know when, but I do intend to,' she answered a little too falteringly.

'I see.' He paused and appeared to make his mind up about something. 'I'll be there on Sunday afternoon. If you happen to be there around 3pm perhaps you would like to join me for a drink?'

'Oh… yes, that would be fine. To discuss my ideas on Auror training?' she asked.

He turned back to the door and pulled it open a touch. 'I prefer to keep work discussions in the Ministry,' he said. 'The Traveller's Rest is a place to forget the mundane and the woes of life.'

'And what about Jessica?' She had said it without hesitation and without considering the impact it was likely to have; it had simply tumbled from her mouth before she could appraise the wisdom of saying it.

Snape closed the door again and turned around slowly as if he was trying to work out her meaning before facing her. 'Jessica?' he said.

'Yes, Jessica,' she repeated, her heart hammering in her chest. 'Won't she mind?'

Snape paused and furrowed his brow, his penetrating gaze discomfiting her almost as much as his silence. 'What are you talking about, Granger?' he asked.

'Harry mentioned someone called Jessica,' she persisted; beginning to wish she had kept her fears to herself. Snape was looking confused and a little irritated. 'He said you lived with someone called Jessica. I assumed she…'

'You assumed what?'

Hermione felt the colour in her cheeks beginning to deepen, she looked at the pile of parchments on her desk and set to work straightening them. 'Was Harry wrong?' she said, deflecting the question.

'For an Auror he can be monumentally stupid. I have no idea where he would have got such a ridiculous notion from.' Something seemed to dawn on him and he retraced his steps to cross the floor of her office until he was standing directly in front of her desk again. 'Could he have said Jezzy?' he asked.

Hermione looked up. 'He definitely said Jessica, but it was weeks ago, now, just after you returned my memories. I suppose he could have got it mixed up. Maybe he heard 'Jessie'? Why? Who is Jezzy?'

'Jezzy is a House-elf,' he replied, a shadow of a smile apparent in his expression. 'And before you lecture me on House-elf rights, she does not belong to me. She does, however, show me loyalty in some misguided idea that she owes me gratitude. I found her a permanent situation when she was abandoned by her former master. I suppose I may have mentioned her name to some members of the Auror team as a vague reason for preventing meetings at my house. I may not have been entirely clear as to who or what Jezzy was.'

The relief was torrential; she covered it up by methodically lining up her quills and neatly stacking them in order of size. She had wasted far too many hours dreaming up the non-existent qualities and perfections of a House-elf, it was time to stop this adolescent behaviour.

When she didn't reply, Snape pressed her for a response. 'I take it Potter made assumptions?'

'Yes. He thinks you are in a relationship with a woman called Jessica.'

'And you also believed this?'

'I had no reason to think otherwise.'

'You could have asked. Potter could have asked.'

'It's not really my business,' she replied. 'And Harry didn't want his head bitten off for prying. Plus, I suspect your lack of clarification might have been intentional. Maybe you were happy for them to make assumptions?'

Snape neither conceded her point nor denied it, but looked a little uncomfortable as he considered his response. 'I certainly did not intend to deceive you,' he replied.

'It doesn't matter. No harm done really. And I'm now having to reconsider my opinion of you once again.' He looked at her quizzically, waiting for her to elucidate. 'House-elf champion,' she replied, laughing at his indignant expression.

'I am no such thing, and I would be obliged if you would keep the contents of this conversation to yourself.'

'Your secret is safe with me, Severus,' she said. 'But you'll have to buy me lunch on Sunday to ensure my silence.'

'Blackmail, Granger?'

'I told you you were a bad influence.'

'Very well, I see you leave me no choice. Outmanoeuvred by a Gryffindor, I really am losing my touch.' Hermione's smile followed him out of the door and she spent the rest of the afternoon and much of the evening wearing it.